Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976

No: 9 Dated: Mar, 01 1977

THE MAHARASHTRA ANIMAL PRESERVATION ACT, 1976

ACT No. IX OF 1977

    An Act to provide for the prohibition of slaughter and preservation of cows, bulls and bullocks useful for milch, breeding, draught or agricultural purposes and for restriction on slaughter for the preservation of certain other animals suitable for the said purposes.

    WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the prohibition of slaughter and preservation of cows, bulls and bullocks useful for milch, breeding, draught or agricultural purposes and for restriction on slaughter for the preservation of certain other animals suitable for the said purposes and to provide for matter connected therewith;

It is hereby enacted in the Twenty-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows :—

1. Short title, extent, commencement and application:- (1) This Act may be called the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976.

(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Maharashtra.

(3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

(4) It shall apply to cows bulls or bullocks and to scheduled animals.

2. Declaration of State Policy:- It is hereby declared that this Act is for giving effect to the policy of the State towards securing the principles specified in article 48 of the Constitution of India.

3. Definitions:- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(a) “Competent authority” means a person or body of persons appointed by the State Government under section 4 to perform the functions of a competent authority under this Act;

(b) “cow” includes a heifer or male or female calf of a cow;

(c) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(d) “Schedule” means the Schedule appended to this Act; (e) “scheduled animal” means any animal specified in the Schedule; and the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, add to the Schedule any species of animals, after considering the necessity for preservation of that species of animals; and the provisions of sub-section (3) of section 16, in so far as they relate to laying before, and modification by, the State Legislature, shall apply in relation to such notification as they apply to any rule made under that section.

4. Appointment of competent authority:- The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint one or more persons or one or more bodies of persons to perform the function of a competent authority under this Act and specify the areas within which they shall perform such functions.